What’s the difference between Accreditation and certification?

Accreditation is a process by which organizations such as Certification Bodies and Registrars are authorized to conduct certification of conformity to prescribed standards such as ISO 9000. Accreditation is therefore the product of the accreditation process therefore Certification Bodies are accredited not certificated.

Certification is a process by which Certification Bodies and Registrars verify that organizations (the producers of product or service) have demonstrated conformity with prescribed standards. Certification is a product of the certification process therefore organizations are certified not accredited to ISO 9000.